This post is also available in:
Nederlands (Dutch)
Ely: the most underrated place in Nevada
When you say Nevada, you usually think of Las Vegas, casinos and endless desert roads.
As a result, Ely, a smaller city in the east of the state, often remains unjustly unknown.
But when you walk around the historic Nevada Northern Railway Station in the evening, while the sun slowly disappears behind the surrounding mountains, you get a special feeling at Ely.
Nevada Northern Railway Station
The railway museum is one of the best preserved historic railway complexes in the West and it is nice to see that everything has been left in its original state.
Only an attentive neighbour who keeps an eye on things and who films us from a distance reminds us that this valuable heritage is carefully protected.
Great Basin National Park
But Ely is more than just railway history and casinos.
The city is the ideal gateway to the spectacular Great Basin National Park, one of the least visited but most beautiful national parks in the United States, with its Lehman Caves and its Bristlecone pines.
The city itself also surprises. The streets look remarkably neat and tidy, with recently renovated roads and colorful murals popping up all over the center.
The murals tell the story of the miners, railway workers and pioneers who shaped this region. They give Ely its own identity that you no longer find in many other American towns.
Laundromat
Even the most everyday things get something special here.
In the local laundromat I do my laundry among other travelers and residents. When we struggle with the quarters for the vending machines, a friendly grandfather who does the laundry with his grandson immediately comes to the rescue. He knows the trick to insert the quarters in the right way.
Mr. G’s
After a day full of discoveries, we end up in downtown Ely at Mr. G’s who serves delicious salads and pizzas.
American portions, but the quality is at least as impressive.
The friendly service and relaxed atmosphere make it clear why this restaurant is so loved by the locals.
That’s Ely’s real charm.
Not a single attraction but the combination of historic locomotives, colorful murals, friendly encounters, a wash and a chat, and the proximity of one of America’s most beautiful nature reserves. This guarantees a successful day.
Ely doesn’t have to compete with the glitz of Las Vegas at all.
It offers something that is becoming increasingly rare: authenticity. And that’s exactly why I think it’s perhaps the most underrated place in Nevada.
Emma
This was the last article. I hope you enjoyed following our journey. These stories were written with a deep love for America and shared with great pleasure. This was probably our last trip through the American West and, while it may not have been the most spectacular, it was certainly the most rewarding. Perhaps that is precisely what made it so special.
The End.
Previous Story | Table of Contents | End